Author: Lucy Roller
Lucy is a student employee with Technology Services.
As football season is in full swing, fans likely noticed major visible upgrades at Gies Memorial Stadium; there have been significant invisible upgrades too. Thanks to a donation from Larry Gies, the stadium recently underwent renovations to provide Wi-Fi access throughout the entire complex. This project was a collaboration between Technology Services and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Today, fans can get online anywhere in the stadium, thanks to an upgrade that increased the number of Wi-Fi access points from about 100 to 1,344. More access points mean that fans can more easily use digital tickets, stay connected with others at the game, and share their experience on social media.
These access points have led to a surge in activity, with 21,600 devices connected to the Wi-Fi at the same time during the September 12 game against Duke, with 16.3 terabytes of information being received by devices in the stadium during the course of the game. For scale, the average household uses about half a terabyte of data per month.
The upgrade process
The renovations themselves were a complex, lengthy process. Work began after the 2024 football season concluded, and representatives from Technology Services and the DIA met weekly to coordinate the project. Senior Associate Athletics Director for Fighting Illini Productions and Technology, Derryl Myles, shared some insights into the difficulties of the renovations.
“The biggest challenge was coordinating resources across four major projects taking place at the stadium at the same time. Several projects depended on the same electricians, Facilities & Services crews, and, at times, the same cranes and other equipment. Keeping everything moving requires close coordination among the teams and a great deal of flexibility when resources need to shift from one project to another.”
Looking to the Future
Fans can now stay connected anywhere in the stadium, but these renovations aren’t just for short-term successes. Myles elaborated about the future DIA wants this project to have.
“The goal is not only to provide a stronger, more consistent wireless experience today, but also to create a foundation that can support future technologies, services, and opportunities as the stadium needs continue to evolve,” Myles said. “Beyond improving connectivity today, we wanted to create the flexibility to support new technologies, services, and fan experiences that may benefit from stronger wireless connectivity in the years ahead.”
Technology Services is eager to partner with DIA to continue to enhance the fan experience at sporting events across the university.